Chain and attachment therefor



Oct. 9, 1928. 1,686,566

N. D. LEVIN GHAIN AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR Original Filed June 23, 1924 dz -m I l j UN {,2 l8 y I 4%;

i 2 V .1 r I; I ,3 i i I I 1' I I I l I I I l I l i 17 I A ,7 UMP i I I I l 1 L J k J Patented Get. 9, 1928. v

un -rs, s tes v a runs 1). LE N, or, COLUMBUS, onr essienon To rein anrnanyrrnnurnoruniue co., on. COLUMBUS, onto, n oonronariou-ononioh CHAIN, AND ArrAcr i/innrfirr nn-Eroa' Application as me 23, 1924, Serial n0, ZQLS'ZL Renewed July 3, i928.

i The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in chains andat-j tachments therefor, and particularly to chains and attachments which are adapted for use in conveyors of the scraper type."

One object- 'of this invention is to provide an improved chain of the type specified, Which, within certain limits, is universally flexible, so as to accommodate itself to various inequalities of the surfaces over which passes.

Another object is to provide improved means for connecting together theends of said chain. v we 7 A further object is to provide improved means for the attachment of conveying, ele-- ments to said chain, whereby said conveying present novel and advantageous features.

elements will be rigidly held against both angular and bodily movement longitudinally of the chain,"but Will be permitted to freely" swing in planes extending transversely of'the chain. 1 I w I Further-,the conveying elements themselves The means whereby I attain these objects are fully set forth in the following specifica tions and illustrated drawings, in which: I

Fig. lis a plan view, partly in section, of a chain 1 embodying my in the accompanying Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in-s'ection,"

of the chain illustrated in Fig. 1,, showing, in

. end. elevation, theconveyor elements.

.Fig. 3 is a section taken along the'line 1H III ofzFig. 1, showing the chain'and, in section, the'conveying elementgthese parts being shown in their relation to "the conveyor- Like numerals referto like parts in the sev eral views.

As shown in the drawings,'niy' improved chain comprises a series of alternate strap and bar links which'ar'e so articulated asto permit universal flexure of the chain Within limits "sufiicient to take care of the usual conditions under Which it is used.

The strap links consistof flattened endless castings or drop forgings having elongated apertures extending longitudinally of 'the links, and at each end there is'formed' a bear ing seat 2 of spherical curvature.

Each barlinkis formed of'a pairof' par- I allel sine bars 3 having, at the ends, inwardly projecting conical bosses t, to give the proper thickness of metal for the pi ntles presently to theadjac'ent link, and these partsare o flsuch proportions as to permit universal relative angular movement of ad acent links.

The spherical portions 6 of. the pmtles 5,

which are engaged by the seats of links 1, pern'nt universal movement of the links rela= i tive to one another. Itfwill be seen that the" coned portions 4 at'thejendsof links'3, which pintles 5, areopposed by complem'entary reerence to Figs. 2 and8 ofthe drawings shows that the conical portions and the opposed complementary recesses are not/in contact ,but

v Tocon'nect thecends of the chain together;

I 'have'provided a coupling link 7 whichyis' "formed of the parts 8 and 9, each having-and endbearing seat 2,'siniila-rto theseats forme'd in the links 1, adapted tojengage the pintle 6 of the adj'acent link. ormed on theend; of the part 8 is one member of an interlock 'ingfconnection, here shovvn as a transversely extending dovetail projection-1O adapted to engagean interlockingmember on the part 9,; hereshovvn asasocket 11.-

of onememb'er, that is, the dovetail 10 "rela-' tive to the other member, that is, socket 11. A cotter pin 12'may, if desired, be inserted in vent their accidental disengagement. Preferably, the cott'erfpin '1'2'Will be disposed as, r 105 shown, in aninclin'ed position, so t-hat itvvill be more readilyiaccessible for-Withdrawal or insertion, and its split end" on the opposite side of the chain Will'be easyof access. I

give the requisite strength for supporting the 'cesses formed in the side'faces ofthe links 1, so that asuttic ent clearance is provided 'to permit rocking of the links relative to each. other upon the spherical end bearings; Refmerely give'clearance for free link movement inn/directions. r i invention, itlrcon veyor elements attached. '1

. v, i These parts are so shapedthat theymay beq engaged or disengaged by lateral movement aligned-apertures of the parts 9 andlO When I said parts are" in engaged posit on, to pre- It Will heobserved that this connecting link is ofsuch construction as to-efi ectively take care of not only the'usual longitudinal strains on the chain, and no weakness can develop at this point, but also any torsionalstrains which may be set up, without danger of separating, and, furthermore,without any'strainupon the cotter pins, or other fastening means i used. At the same time,-the construction is such that upon removal of the cotter pin or equivalent fastening means, the parts, by

ily separated.

relative lateral movement,.may be very read- It is to be understood, however, that the parts above described maybe subject to wide varlat onin structure without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The strap-links l. are provided, as here shown, with two laterally projecting lugs 13,

a pivot pin 14 being removably mounted therein, upon which pin is mounted the laterally projecting conveyor flight Bythis means the flights 15are securely held against both angular and bodilymovements longi= tud'inally of the chain, but are freetoswing about the pivotv pins 14 in planes extending.

- transversely thereof. For example, as shown in dotted lines in' Fig 8,.the flight 15 may be thrown, either manually or by mechanical means, to an idle posltion, and, due to its construction and mounting,

working position as shown in full lines.

'I have shown, in the drawing, a carrier propel material may be substitutedv for that] here illustrated,.I have foundthe particular flight. shown to possess'marked' advantages with; certain classes of material The said flight 15 is formed hollow, as shown, for lightness, and an inclined portion 17 preferably,

on each side of the longitudinalicenter oftheflight, so as to be effective in either direction of movement of the chain. This gives a flight ofsuflicientheight and of shovel-like formationto engage and carry along loosemateria'l, such as coal, without sliding ldly underneath r it, and yet it w-illpass under, without stalling or breaking, any body too heavy to bejmoved;

Inpracticamasses of loose material will ac cumulate between the opposedinclines 17 of adjacent flights and carried along en masse.

The rear or attaching end 18 of the flight 15 is preferably thrown up at an angle to meet the center line of the chain, as shown,

while permitting the body ofthe flight to be flatupon the ground. Such angularly dis posed end' also permits the overthrow of the body 15 whenthe flight is thrown tothe dotted linepositio'nfshown in 3. c p 7 In order to protect the pivot bolt ltand prevent jamming. or cloggingv the pivotal; ac-

tion of the flight, the attaching end 18 is car- 7 I will remain in such tilted. position until again thrown to ried" overor curved about-the pivot-member let (seeFig. 8) to'house and protect it. 7

From the foregoing disclosure, lllWlll be seen that I have pro'vid'ed a chain which iscapable of being flexed, notonly in the usual manner at the articulations of its links in a plane parallel to its longitudinal axis, but may also be flexed in n planes perpendicular to the plane of its longitudinal axis.

This construction gives an extremely useful chain and flight, particularly in a'conmovement of-tlio links, byreason of the are ticulations shown and described, ensuresthe chain and its conveyorflightsadapting itself to the inaccuraciesof the-surface over which; the flights travel. These flights attached tothe chain will, furthermore, by reason of this universal flexibility, adapt themselves to contours and inequalities of the surface over whichthey travel and more efl'ectively handle the'material. The flights, due to their construction, will pick up and carry proper loads, but will not clog or break upon striking immovable obstructions. v p v I Such changes as involve mechanicalskill or the adoption of mechanical expedients equivalent of those herein disclosed, are to be regarded as within the purview of my invention. I What I claim is 1. In-a chai n, a link comprising a pair of substantially parallel side bars, a pintle connecting said side bars and; having a spherical bearing portion lntermediate and spaced from the. inner planes of said side bars, a sec- ;ond link having a thickness less-than the distance between the inner'planes of said side .veyor chain of this type, for the universal bar s, and an elongated aperture at an end of which said spherical portion is adapted to be engaged, and means for guiding said "Sec- 0nd link into operative seated relation with I 'said s'pherical portion upon the application;

of traction to one of said links. 7 i

2. In a chain, a link comprising apair of substantially parallel side bars having in-j wardly extending opposed tapering bosses, a- 1 pintle having a spherical bearing 'surface be' tween said bosses, anda secondlink having a thicknessless than the distance between the inner planes of said sidebars, said secondlink having an elongated'aperture provided at an end thereof with a spherical bearing surface andadapted to be guided by said bosses to seat said bearing surfaces in co-operatingre lation..

3. In a chain,a link; comprising a pair of substantially, parallel side bars having inwardly extendingopposed conical bosses, apintle hav ng a spherical bearing surface be tweensaid bosses, and a second link having a thickness'less than-the distance between-the inner planes of said side bars, said link hav mg an elongated aperture rovided atan end thereof with a spherical earing surface relation.

and adapted to be guided by said bosses to seatv said bearing surfaces in co-operating 4. In a chain, a link comprising a pair of substantially parallel side bars having inwardly extending opposed conical bosses, a.

pintle having aspherical bearing portion seated at opposite sides against the extremi ties of said bosses, and a second linkhaving a thickness less than the distance between the inner planes of said side bars, said link having an elongated aperture provided at an end thereof with a spherical bearing surface and adapted to be guided by said bosses to seat said bearing surfaces in co-operating relation.

5. In a chain, a link comprising a pair'of substantially parallel side bars having inw 7 having a thickness less than the distance bej tween the inner planes of said side bars, said wardly extending opposed conical bosses, a pintle coaxial withsaid bosses and having a spherical bearing portion abutting the extremities of said bosses, and a second link 6. In a chain, a link comprising a p'air of substantially parallel side bars having in- ,wardly extending opposed tapering bosses a pintle having a spherical 'bearing'portion engaged between said'bosses, and a second link having a thickness less than the distance be-.

at an end thereof with; a spherical bearing crating relation, the bounding faces at the tween the inner planes of said side bars, said 7 link having an elongated aperture provided 7 surface and adapted to be guided by said bosses to seat said bearing surfaces in co-op-" 40- bearing end of said aperture being bevelled for permitting relative swinging of said links in planes transverse to the axis of said pintle.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' NiLsn. LEVIN. 

